EPA rule: "Largest regulatory action in history of marine industry"
By IBI Magazine
The NMMA released a statement today saying that a proposed EPA rule could be the "largest regulatory action in the history of the recreational marine industry." The EPA rule is called "Control of Emissions from Non-road Spark Ignition Engines and Equipment," and if passed, could impact boatbuilders, gasoline engine manufacturers (outboard and inboard/sterndrive) and manufacturers of marine generators. "This is by far the most comprehensive rulemaking ever imposed on the recreational marine industry," said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president in the statement. "This proposal directly affects boatbuilders as well as engine manufacturers and will change the way builders design a boat's fuel system. The entire industry needs to be aware of this ruling and prepare to meet all necessary requirements under the new EPA guidelines." The EPA proposal would require gas marine engine manufacturers to meet new emission standards beginning in 2009 and boatbuilders to reduce evaporative emissions from boat fuel systems. Under the proposal, outboard and PWC engines will have to be certified to the same stringent exhaust emission standards that will be required by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2008. For sterndrive and inboard engines, the EPA rule would require that catalyst-based exhaust emission standards begin in 2009. Boatbuilders will be required to change their fuel systems with requirements for fuel hose, plastic fuel tanks and controlling emissions from the fuel tank vent. The rule follows nearly a decade of NMMA and industry-wide efforts to work with EPA on several data collection projects related specifically to evaporative emissions and engine emissions. They include the Carbon Canister Diurnal Emission Evaluation; Fuel, Fill and Vent Hose Permeation Emission Test Program; Off-cycle Emission Data Collection Project; and the Fresh and Salt Water Catalyst Test program, funded by EPA, the U.S. Coast Guard and CARB. "It is very rewarding to be part of an industry that works so closely with government agencies like EPA and the US Coast Guard to create these regulations, which provide cleaner air, improved fuel economy and allow for the creation and development of new products for our customers," said Chuck Rowe, NMMA Chairman and president of Indmar Products, in the statement. A public hearing has been scheduled for June 5 in Reston, Virginia. Members of the NMMA Evaporative Emission Task Force and the Engine Manufacturers Division (EMD) will convene May 14-16 to prepare for the hearing. Dammrich encouraged NMMA to submit any written comments to the EPA by its August 3 deadline.
(18 April 2007)
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